After Ranchi’s six-hitting spree, can India shut down West Indies’ power game?

For West Indies, skipper Shai Hope has provided more than just a glimmer of hope after giving a shellacking to India. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak

Fulfilment of duty will meet fulfilment of dream when India and the West Indies cross swords in the third episode of the T20I series at the Holkar Stadium here on Sunday.

Considering the imperious form the Men in Blue have maintained in the slam-bang format on home soil — they last lost a series in the country back in 2019 — they are expected to win every assignment in their backyard. While the first match in Lucknow went like clockwork for India, West Indies showed in the second clash in Ranchi that it means business.

For Shreyas Iyer and Co., it will be a matter of not leaving it late to preserve that proud record. If the host is to regain the lead in the five-game joust, it must course correct quickly. The frequency at which the bowlers conceded sixes in the previous encounter must have left head coach Gautam Gambhir scratching his head.

The Windies smashed as many as 20 maximums off 111 legitimate deliveries, with the over-the-rope hits contributing to nearly half of its successful 250-run pursuit. But firebrand pacer Mayank Yadav’s frightening burst before the visitors rendered their Calypso beats with the willow, should have brought some cheer to the Indian camp.

The fielding department, however, continues to cause a headache to the powers that be. In such times, the stacked batting unit has been like a refreshing breeze on a sultry day. Having watched his teammates convert starts and relish performing their art on belters, flamboyant opener Abhishek Sharma would hope to be third time lucky.

For West Indies, skipper Shai Hope has provided more than just a glimmer of hope after giving a shellacking to India. By chasing down a humongous total in the last match, the touring team has reminded everyone that no target is beyond reach for its ‘boundary-hitting machines’.

The manner in which the Caribbean outfit wriggled out of early trouble and eventually sailed home must boost its morale. The batters, in Sherfane Rutherford’s words, have made up when the bowlers have had off days, but West Indies cannot allow the trend to continue.

With hardly any time to venture outdoors and perfectly assess the Indore surface, swiftly adapting to the conditions will be the pressing priority.

Competing in the nation’s cleanest city, both sides, irrespective of the personnel they field, will target a spotless show.